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the date of implementation too late (the whole scheme will not be fully implemented until 1980). In my opinion, the scheme should commence in 1978. Only in so doing can the tax-payers be appeased and the community be expected to make more progress and enjoy greater prosperity. It seems that the Recreation and Amenities Section of the Council should also render services to the aged to prove that the Council is now different from the Sanitary Board in early years in that it can provide full-scale and extensive urban services to the four million people in Hong Kong. To organize some events for the elderly as part of our recreation and cultural programmes is not a difficult task at all. Moreover, by extending our services to the old people, it can help to foster a sense of belonging among the local residents and will herald the creation of a utopia where the young are nourished and the old supported. The provision of ideal services to the people of Hong Kong is a prerequisite for her to become a famous city in the world and the centre of activity in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, we shall wait for various sections of the Council to study this question and put forward proposals on how we shall take part in serving the aged.
(3) The Setting Up of a Supervisory System
The Government shall set up a central supervisory system solely responsible for conducting open or secret investigation into various Government Departments with a view to eradicating deep-rooted malpractices and irregularities so as to increase administrative efficiency and save public money. We'd better rectify these at the outset than to hold officers responsible for their wrongdoings in the aftermath. Had an administrative supervisory system been established prior to the setting up of the ICAC, as it should be, the conflict between the ICAC and the police rank and file would have been avoided. The Council too, should immediately make a greater effort to supervise the departmental sections engaged in law enforcement. Will the Chairman please take this point into consideration?
(4) Lastly I would like to bring up some questions at this debate. They are actually petty trifles, but the people are very unhappy about the way they are dealt with by the authorities concerned which make much ado about nothing thereby spoiling the good relations between the people and the Government.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(A) Water Restriction Measure
227
The explanation given to the adoption of this measure is that rain does not fall in the catchment area. But the public are not satisfied with this explanation. As the problem directly affects every citizen, a satisfactory solution ought to be sought, otherwise the work done to please the public will not bear any fruit.
(B) Levying Rates on Co-operative Societies
If the Government calls upon the public to be co-operative and help enforce the law, then by analogy, the co-operative societies are working for the Government. These societies lack funds and their members serve on a voluntary basis. It is unreasonable to ask them to pay tax out of their own pockets.
(C) Does it contravene the law if a certain percentage is charged on part of a mahjong player's winnings deducted for dinner? Playing mahjong has been universally acknowledged as a legal and popular game. If the public are not given a clear explanation about the relevant legislation by the Authorities, they will not know how to comply with it.
(D) It is said that social workers are impolite to the old people and medical workers do not care for the patients, thus arousing public discontent. An old man earning a dollar or so is viewed as being able to support himself and disqualified for claiming Old Age Allowance. All these serve to show that the authority is making much of a trifle by sticking too rigidly to the law. Laws are invariably made for man and in man's favour. The good traditions of the Chinese cannot be ignored. Although the authority concerned may claim that they are dealing with the affairs in a businesslike manner, yet, if their measures do not stand to reason, people will react adversely to the Government. So we'd better put our policies under review.
(E) The Question of Pleading Guilty
In cases of minor offence, there may be sufficient grounds to argue in the defendants' favour, but they always plead guilty because they think that it is a waste of time and effort to stand up in defence of themselves. In that case, they are being wronged. Even their legal representatives instruct them to admit guilt and distort the facts. Though they may stress that they are innocent, yet weighing the punishment likely to
Page 133 of 174
Page 133 of 174
Page 133 of 174
226
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL.
the date of implemention too late (the whole scheme will not be fully implemented until 1980). In my opinion, the scheme should commence in 1978. Only in so doing can the tax-payers be appeased and the community be expected to make more progress and enjoy greater prosperity. It seems that the Recreation and Amenities Section of the Council should also render services to the aged to prove that the Council is now different from the Sanitary Board in early years in that it can provide full-scale and extensive urban services to the four million people in Hong Kong. To organize some events for the elderly as part of our recreation and cultural programmes is not a difficult task at all. Moreover, by extending our services to the old people, it can help to foster a sense of belonging among the local residents and will herald the creation of a utopia where the young are nourished and the old supported. The provision of ideal services to the people of Hong Kong is a prerequisite for her to become a famous city in the world and the centre of activity in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, we shall wait for various sections of the Council to study this question and put forward proposals on how we shall take part in serving the aged.
(3) The Setting Up of a Supervisory System
The Government shall set up a central supervisory system solely responsible for conducting open or secret investigation into various Government Departments with a view to eradicting deep-rooted malpractices and irregularities so as to increase administrative effi- ciency and save public money. We'd better rectify these at the outset than to hold officers responsible for their wrongdoings in the aftermath. Had an administrative supervisory system been established prior to the setting up of the ICAC, as it should be, the conflict between the ICAC and the police rank and file would have been avoided. The Council too, should immediately make a greater effort to supervise the departmental sections engaged in law en- forcement. Will the Chairman please take this point into con- sideration?
(4) Lastly I would like to bring up some questions at this debate. They are actually petty trifles, but the people are very unhappy about the way they are dealt with by the authorities concerned which make much ado about nothing thereby spoiling the good relations between the people and the Government.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(A) Water Restriction Measure
227
The explanation given to the adoption of this measure is that rain does not fall in the catchment area. But the public are not satisfied with this explanation. As the problem directly affects every citizen, a satisfactory solution ought to be sought, otherwise the work done to please the public will not bear any fruit.
(B) Levying Rates on Co-operative Societies
If the Government calls upon the public to be co-operative and help enforce the law, then by analogy, the co-operative societies are working for the Government. These societies lack funds and their members serve on a voluntary basis. It is unreasonable to ask them to pay tax out of their own pockets. (C) Does it contravene the law if a certain percentage is charged on part of a mahjong player's winnings deducted for dinner? Playing mahjong has been universally acknowledged as a legal and popular game. If the public are not given a clear explanation about the relevent legislation by the Authorities, they will not know how to comply with it.
(D) It is said that social workers are impolite to the old people and medical workers do not care for the patients, thus arousing public discontent. An old man earning a dollar or so is viewed as being able to support himself and disqualified for claiming Old Age Allowance. All these serve to show that the authority is making much of a trifle by sticking too rigidly to the law. Laws are invariably made for man and in man's favour. The good traditions of the Chinese cannot be ignored. Although the authority concerned may claim that they are dealing with the affairs in a businesslike manner, yet, if their measures do not stand to reason, people will react adversely to the Government. So we'd better put our policies under review.
(E) The Question of Pleading Guilty
In cases of minor offence, there may be sufficient grounds to argue in the defendants' favour, but they always plead guilty because they think that it is a waste of time and effort to stand up in defence of themselves. In that case, they are being wronged. Even their legal representatives instruct them to admit guilt and distort the facts. Though they may stress that they are innocent, yet weighing the punishment likely to
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